Page 59 of Shine On Oklahoma

“I wouldn’t have thought it up ‘til now,no.”

Rob turned in a slow circle, one hand on hisown head, like he was trying to force and idea into it. Then said,“We can track the watch from our computer back at the house. Comeon, hurry.”

Everyone piled into cars and took off forHoliday Ranch, pulling in about a minute later, spilling from theirvehicles and swarming into the house. More relatives were arrivingevery second. Vidalia with her brood of daughters and all theirhusbands, and Sunny from the bakery, hanging close to Jason.

Kendra stood there waiting with the rest ofthem while Rob tapped keys, and brought up a map. “That’s out pastthe falls,” he said. “Not even on a road.”

“Tell me this ass hat is not making mypregnant sister hike through the woods,” Kendra all but growled.They’d explored those woods as little girls, she recalled. Ithadn’t gone well.

“There’s an old hunting cabin up near there,”Rob said. “That’s gotta be where they are.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Kendra lookedat them expectantly.

Chief Jimmy held up a hand. “All right,listen. I know you all want to go up there, but you should leavethis to the police. We need to be careful, we don’t want to get herhurt.”

Kendra looked at him, then looked around. “Idon’t know about the rest of you, but if you want to keep me here,you’re gonna have to shoot me.”

“I could arrest you,” Jimmy said.

Rob clapped the chief on the shoulder. “No,Jim. You can’t. She’s family.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time,” he replied witha look at Joey, meant to be teasing, and maybe break some of thetension. It failed. He sighed, and said, “We’ll meet at the Brandfamily cabin, here.” He touched a spot on the computer screen’smap. “We’ll have to hike in from there. And I don’t want to see asingle weapon on any of you.”

“Don’t worry.” Kendra pressed her arm to herside, to cover the bulge in her pocket. “You won’t.”

#

Kiley couldn’t believe it when she heardsomeone knock on the shanty’s wooden door.

She knew Rob would come for her. But shedidn’t expect him to knock.

Her captors didn’t seem surprised though.“Mr. Caine” looked up. Then he nodded at “Phil,” who went to thedoor, lifted the 2 by 6 board that held it shut, and opened it.

Kiley’s father walked in. She shot out of therocking chair—shot being a relative term—and would’ve run into hisarms, except that Caine pointed his ugly handgun at her and said,“Uh-uh-uh. Sit down.”

Jack smiled, first at her face, and then ather belly. “You okay, Kiley-girl?”

“So far, so good, Dad,” she said. “Does thisall have something to do with you?”

“Yeah. And I’m sorry. I’m here to make itright.”

Phil waved his gun. “Come on, Jack, you knowthe deal. Arms up.”

Jack held his arms out to his sides, one abit oddly, and as Phil patted him down, he said, “I missed you,too, you adorable ginger thug.”

“He’s clean, boss,” Phil said.

“Where’s Ace?” Jack looked from one man tothe other. “Oh, he didn’t have the stomach for kidnapping apregnant woman, did he? Yeah, he’s too decent for this kind ofgarbage. Well, no matter. Here I am, Caine. Alone and unarmed. Yourdemands have been met. You can let my daughter go now.”

“Yeah, that’s not exactly how this is gonnago down.”

“I was afraid you’d say something like that.”Then he shot Kiley a look, and she read it. He was going to dosomething. She was terrified, and opened her mouth to ask him notto, but too late. He grabbed Phil’s shoulders and kneed him in thegroin. Phil doubled over, and Jack shoved him so hard he stumbledbackward and crached Caine. Caine’s gun went off as his chairtoppled. Jack clutched his thigh and collapsed to the floor. All ofit had happened at the same time, and the next thing she knew,blood was pulsing from under her father’s hand. Caine got up on hisfeet again.

Jack pushed himself up too and told her torun without a word, his eyes shifting from her to the open doortwice, filled with meaning. Then he lunged at Caine. Kiley racedout the door and into the woods. She had to get her baby to safety.And her father had just risked his life, maybe given his life, sothat she could.

She would send someone back to save Jack.Maybe he’d still be okay.

Then something new happened that brought herdash through the forest to a sudden stop. It felt like a steel bandwas tightening around her middle. She clutched herself, fear, morethan pain, just through her entire being.

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